National Library of Scotland To mark its 100th birthday, the National Library of Scotland presents a special exhibition, Dear Library. Made in collaboration with partners across the country, this love letter to libraries will intrigue, energise and galvanise you. Browse bookshelves in an open reading room filled with recommendations from people around Scotland, including some well-known faces. See libraries in popular culture, protest banners and badges, vintage film footage and more... Audience required to walk or move around during the performance

Chaosium Horror! Madness! Secrets! Call of Cthulhu returns to the Edinburgh Fringe, once again played live on stage. A star team of investigators faces unspeakable terrors in a live game of Call of Cthulhu, the foremost tabletop game of horror and mystery. In 1920s Edinburgh, they are the only thing standing in the way of diabolical cults and cosmic monsters from beyond space! Guided by Keeper of Arcane Lore Mike Mason, they'll be seeking answers among tomes of forbidden lore in the National Library of Scotland itself. None Age category: 14+

The National Library of Scotland recently acquired the archive of beloved poet (and former Makar), playwright, and novelist, Jackie Kay. Today audiences can enjoy the unique experience of being guided through a selection of material by the writer herself, in this exclusive first look into her archive. Kay will be joined by National Library of Scotland manuscripts curators Dan Sheehy and Colin McIlroy to discuss the joys and challenges of curation, how it feels to re-encounter work from an earlier version of yourself, and the power and potential offered by literary archives.

This is an exciting opportunity to explore Muriel Spark's archive with the people who care for it. Led by National Library of Scotland manuscripts curators Colin Mcilroy and Chris Cassells, along with Spark scholars Dan Gunn and Frances Wilson, this will be a fascinating chance to gain new insights on one of Scotland's literary legends, and for budding writers and researchers to join the discussion on the meaning and making of archives.

National Library of Scotland with Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature We're marking the centenary of the National Library of Scotland in 2025 with Dear Library, an exhibition celebrating the power of books and the value of libraries across the country. Inspired by the exhibition’s Book That Shaped Me feature, we’ve invited a selection of Scottish writers to read from their own work alongside the books that inspired them on their journey. For six lunchtimes during festival season we’ll host readings from two writers each day. Discover some of Scotland’s contemporary authors in these intimate story sessions, and maybe find a new favourite of your own. Audience will be standing throughout Age category: 12+

Graeme Hawley, Head of Published Collections, National Library of Scotland A tour of the National Library of Scotland in 300 book spines. Underneath the streets of the Old Town are 50 miles of the library’s shelving, storing half of our 60 million items. But if you think this is a story of books, magazines, and manuscripts, you are only halfway there. This is a story about you. This slideshow of hundreds of book spines not only reveals the broad and deep collecting practices of the National Library of Scotland, but also tells the story of who we are as a species. None Age category: 16+